Rare Speaker Election in 18th Lok Sabha
New Delhi: The 18th Lok Sabha will see a rare contest for the Speaker’s post as NDA’s Om Birla faces off against Congress’s Kodikunnil Suresh. The contest arose after the NDA and INDIA bloc failed to reach a consensus, with the Opposition accusing the government of not honoring the Deputy Speaker convention.
Delhi HC Stays Bail Granted to Kejriwal
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court stayed the trial court’s bail granted to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the excise policy case. Justice Sudhir Kumar Jain noted the trial court’s insufficient appreciation of evidence from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and lack of adequate argument time for the ED. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) plans to challenge the order in the Supreme Court.
Railways to Reduce Speed of Select Vande Bharat, Gatiman Express Trains
Chennai: Indian Railways will lower the speed of premium trains, including Vande Bharat and Gatiman Express, from 160 kmph to 130 kmph on select routes for safety. This change, affecting trains such as the Delhi-Jhansi Gatiman Express and Delhi-Khajuraho Vande Bharat Express, will increase travel time by 25-30 minutes. The reduction follows the failure of the Train Protection & Warning System (TPWS) on key routes.
U.P. Cabinet Approves Ordinance to Curb Exam Paper Leaks
Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet approved an Ordinance imposing jail terms from two years to life imprisonment and fines up to ₹1 crore for exam paper leaks. It applies to various state exams and recruitment tests, also penalizing fake papers and employment websites. Offenders face financial penalties and blacklisting.
Nagaland to Vote in Civic Polls with Women’s Reservation
Guwahati: Nagaland will vote for urban local bodies (ULBs) today, marking the first civic polls with 33% reservation for women. This historic event follows two decades of resistance. Elections will be held in 10 of the 16 districts, with reserved seats in key municipal councils and town councils across the state.
Cost of Future Wars Enormous, Resources Should Be Optimised: Defence Chief
New Delhi: Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan emphasized the need to optimize resources and manpower to afford future weapon systems, noting the high cost of future wars. He highlighted ongoing integration efforts within the Army, Navy, and Air Force to enhance efficiency. Addressing the Air Force’s WASP seminar, General Chauhan also called for collaboration with civil aviation and other services to reduce costs.
Rahul Gandhi to be Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha
New Delhi: Rahul Gandhi has been appointed as the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, marking his first constitutional position in his 20-year political career. The announcement came after a meeting of the INDIA bloc leaders at Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s residence. As LoP, Gandhi will hold the rank of a Cabinet Minister and be part of key selection panels. This follows his fifth consecutive term as an MP.
Defence Ministry Signs 350th Contract Under iDEX for Miniaturised Satellite
New Delhi: The Defence Ministry has signed its 350th contract under the Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) initiative with SpacePixxel Technologies to develop a miniaturised satellite. This modular satellite, led by the Indian Air Force, will carry multiple payloads up to 150 kg, offering benefits such as faster, economical deployment, and scalability. iDEX, established by the Defence Innovation Organisation, promotes innovation in critical defence technologies through challenges and schemes like ADITI.
NTA Reform Panel to Elicit Views of Parents, Students
New Delhi: The National Testing Agency (NTA) reform panel, led by former ISRO Chairman K. Radhakrishnan, aims to gather concerns and suggestions from students and parents about recent exam paper leaks. The panel plans to develop a robust, tamper-proof testing system. Meanwhile, the Central Bureau of Investigation has sealed the NTA office following NEET-UG paper leaks. The revised NEET-PG 2024 date will be announced next week, with assurances of maintaining the test’s integrity and addressing student concerns.
Chinese Lunar Probe Returns with Far Side Samples
Bangkok: China’s Chang’e 6 probe successfully returned to Earth with rock and soil samples from the far side of the moon, marking a global first. The mission, hailed as a complete success by Zhang Kejian of the China National Space Administration, aims to study geological differences between the moon’s near and far sides.